TECHNOLOGY AND NOT BEING ABLE TO TUNE A NITRO IS TAKING THE HOBBY TO ELECTRIC
I just want to make an observation that I actually predicted. I run a full time Indoor Off Road R/C Track in Flowood, MS. If you live in the Southeast and have not been to the track it is worth a trip.
I predicted shortly after we opened, within a year, we would see more 1/8 electric than nitro on our track. We have held special races this year where we have had more electric than nitro but this past Thursday night at one of our weekly races, we had more 1/8 electric than 1/8 nitro for the first time.
I helped start a club and build our first outdoor track 6 years ago with a guy named Leighton Dillard. You guys might remember Leighton, he had a heart attack and died on the drivers stand in Atlanta at the PNB two years ago. Anyway, I cannot tell you how many people I have seen get into the hobby and quit after a short time because of not being able to tune a nitro engine. I can think of only a hand full of people who can truly race tune a nitro and every race we have many that flame out.
Most of the technology and innovation in R/C over the past few years has been in Electric. Esc, motors, batteries, etc. The state of Louisiana has more electric racers than they have LSU Fans. (I know that is not true, because they are all LSU fans and many more) These guys have figured it out and especially if you are going to travel and race. It is just so much easier and I know things can happen that keep the electric guys out of races, but not near as much as nitro. Yes, I like the smell and the noise of the engines as well, but I would also like to have all the people back in the hobby that got out because they could not tune a nitro and at the time did not have an alternative. I am loving me some Electric. Leighton is rolling over in his grave, but I bet he would be running electric as well.